This episode offers a comprehensive overview of two closely related literary theories: Practical Criticism and New Criticism, detailing their origins, core tenets, and differences. Practical Criticism, pioneered by I. A. Richards in Britain during the 1920s, focused on a close reading of poetry to analyse the text's language, imagery, and structure without external context, treating the poem as a stimulus for the reader's psychological experience. New Criticism, emerging primarily in the United States in the 1930s and 40s with figures like Cleanth Brooks and John Crowe Ransom, developed out of this British movement. Still, it formalised the approach into a broader, systematic theory that applied to all literary genres. A central tenet of New Criticism is the concept of textual autonomy, which asserts that a literary work is a self-contained aesthetic object whose objective meaning is found internally, leading to concepts such as the Intentional Fallacy and the Affective Fallacy. While both movements champion close reading and the text itself over biographical or historical context, Practical Criticism is often described as a teaching method concerned with the reader's direct experience, while New Criticism is a formal theory aimed at establishing a unified, objective interpretation of the work's structure.

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of ecocriticism, an interdisciplinary field that explores the relationship between literature and the environment. The episode traces the field's origins, noting its emergence in the late 20th century as a response to growing environmental crises, and defines it as the study of how texts address nature, ecological concerns, and the ethical implications of human-nature interactions. It also discusses the various branches of ecocriticism, such as ecofeminism and postcolonial ecocriticism, and distinguishes between the anthropocentric (human-centred) and ecocentric (nature-centred) viewpoints. Furthermore, the episode delves into a significant subgenre known as climate fiction (cli-fi), offering multiple examples of applying an ecocritical lens to classic and contemporary literary works. One source, in particular, focuses on how author Amitav Ghosh addresses environmental degradation and climate change. Collectively, the sources emphasise that ecocriticism serves as a crucial tool for fostering environmental awareness and advocating for sustainability and social change.

This episode offers guidance and commentary on the process of academic research and writing, particularly within the humanities. This episode also outlines the mechanical and structural requirements for formal papers, including the MLA formatting guidelines for margins, headings, and the placement of a Works Cited list. It also focuses on the research methodology, providing a comprehensive overview of the steps involved in a project, from topic selection and literature reviews to various qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys and textual analysis. The episode scrutinises literary criticism, explicitly contrasting the historical and persistent practice of "close reading" with newer "distant reading" methods favoured by digital humanities scholars, debating the value and scope of each approach. Finally, there is practical instruction on specific components of academic writing, including the structure and purpose of an abstract, as well as a description of the peer review process for journal submissions.

This episode offers an in-depth analysis of the stream of consciousness narrative technique, with a particular focus on its application by Modernist authors such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. Several texts define this technique, often tracing its popularisation to psychologist William James, and describe its key features, such as fragmented thoughts, a non-linear flow, and the use of interior monologue to represent a character's unfiltered psychic content. A significant portion of the episode scrutinises Joyce's Ulysses, especially the Molly Bloom monologue, through a linguistic lens, examining the structural role of cohesion categories, such as reference, conjunction, and collocation, in creating the text's unique, unconventional coherence despite its lack of traditional punctuation. The sources conclude that understanding these complex literary texts requires the reader's cultural and cognitive competence in addition to mere linguistic knowledge.

This episode provides an extensive overview of the Theatre of the Absurd, a dramatic movement from the mid-20th century rooted in Existentialist philosophy, which explores the meaninglessness of human existence and the subsequent breakdown of communication. Several articles analyse specific plays by prominent figures, such as Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco, demonstrating how they employ unconventional techniques to convey profound themes. The analysis of Beckett’s Endgame focuses on the superiority of symbolic objects over language in conveying themes of futility and isolation. At the same time, the critique of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros examines its allegorical use of metamorphosis to challenge conformity and totalitarianism. Collectively, the texts define the movement's core characteristics, such as cyclical plots, nonsensical dialogue, the use of archetypal characters, and the goal of provoking "the laughter of liberation" in the face of despair.

This episode provides an in-depth overview of various discourse analysis methodologies, with a particular focus on how language and communication shape social reality, power, and ideology. Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA) is detailed, emphasising its focus on power relationships and its theoretical basis in Michel Foucault's work, including the concepts outlined in L'Ordre du discours regarding speech control and exclusion. Conversation Analysis (CA) is introduced as a method for studying social interaction through transcribed, naturally occurring conversations, shifting from casual talk to institutional settings. Finally, the episode provides a practical, multi-step toolbox for conducting qualitative discourse analysis, outlining systematic procedures like establishing context, exploring production processes, coding data, and examining linguistic and rhetorical mechanisms to analyse political and media texts.

This episode provides an overview of feminist literary criticism, tracing its development from medieval precursors to modern theoretical approaches. They discuss key figures, such as Elaine Showalter, identifying her distinction between "feminist critique" (focusing on women as readers) and "gyno-critics" (focusing on women as writers). Significant attention is paid to Mary Wollstonecraft as a foundational figure who employed critical strategies against patriarchal authors, such as Milton and Rousseau, and to Simone de Beauvoir, whose work on the social construction of gender and myth laid the groundwork for later feminist theorists, including Kate Millett. Furthermore, the episode explores specialised areas of criticism, including the rise of black feminist criticism (focusing on intersectionality), lesbian feminist criticism (addressing the 'lesbian continuum'), French feminism (such as Irigaray's focus on the embodied subject), and the impact of poststructuralism and psychoanalysis on understanding sexual difference and gender performativity. Collectively, the sources map the evolution of feminist thought as a complex, politically engaged, and theoretically diverse field that constantly challenges literary canons and patriarchal structures.

The Episode offers a comprehensive overview of postcolonial literature and theory, focusing on key concepts and influential thinkers. The episode defines postcolonial literature as writing that addresses the consequences of colonialism and the struggles for cultural and political independence, often subverting Eurocentric narratives. Central to this field is the work of Edward Said, whose critiques of Orientalism and cultural imperialism in works like Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism established key theoretical pillars. Another prominent figure, Homi K. Bhabha, introduces crucial concepts such as hybridity, ambivalence, and the Third Space, though his dense prose has also drawn criticism. Finally, the episode list showcases the characteristic features of postcolonial literature, including themes of decolonisation, identity, diaspora, and the subversion of colonial language, while featuring prominent writers from Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia.

This episode presents a multifaceted examination of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, offering both the play's original text with extensive annotations and various critical analyses. It presents detailed notes on prosody, Elizabethan language, social hierarchies, and historical context, offering a deep understanding of the play's structure and the world in which it was written. The episode also explores explicit thematic elements, such as fate versus free will, the freedom of youth rebellion, and the intertwining of love, death, and violence, often illustrating these themes with dramatic irony and recurring motifs, including light and dark imagery. It provides plot overviews, character analyses, and discussions of the play's reception within its historical context, particularly noting the Elizabethan audience's appreciation for theatre and evolving social values concerning religion and family.

This episode discusses Christopher Marlowe's play, Doctor Faustus, and its historical and literary context. They provide an overview of the play's themes, including the conflict between good and evil, as well as Faustus's ambition for knowledge and power. Additionally, the episode delves into Marlowe's biography, including his education and the controversial accusations of atheism and espionage, and how these aspects shaped his writing. The episode also compares the different versions of the Doctor Faustus text (A-text and B-text). It highlights the play's enduring popularity and influence on later works and interpretations of the Faustus legend.

This episode presents an overview of American poetry, charting its evolution from colonial times to the present day. They explore various poetic movements and communities, highlighting how American poets developed a distinct voice separate from European traditions. Key themes, including individuality, democracy, liberty, and the exploration of diverse cultural and social issues, are discussed, alongside the impact of significant historical events such as the Civil War and both World Wars. The texts emphasise the search for a unique American identity within its poetic expressions, noting how different regions and groups contributed to the genre's richness and complexity.

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, highlighting its historical context and key characteristics. They trace the origins of English drama from medieval miracle and morality plays to the Renaissance revival of classical influences, culminating in the works of prominent playwrights like William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson. The texts discuss the features of the Elizabethan stage, including its audience, lack of elaborate scenery, and reliance on rich dialogue, as well as the societal criticism and censorship the theatre faced. Furthermore, the sources explore dramatic devices used during the era, such as blank verse, soliloquies, asides, and disguises, and detail specific plays and their themes, including the prevalence of revenge tragedies and comedies of humours.

The history of Greek theatre commenced with religious ceremonies, primarily involving a chorus of worshippers chanting and performing unrehearsed dances around a god's altar. The initial step towards drama occurred when a single member of this chorus separated to speak lines, to which the chorus responded. This practice evolved into the formal structure of drama, with tragedy emerging directly from religious observance and remaining intrinsically linked to the worship of gods, especially Dionysus, in whose honour tragedies were performed. Thespis is widely recognised as the earliest recorded actor and the "Inventor of Tragedy" around 532 BC, leading to the institutionalisation of theatre as part of festivals like the City Dionysia around 508 BC. The 5th century BC is considered the Golden Age of Greek drama, witnessing the contributions of prominent playwrights such as Aeschylus, who introduced a second actor and reduced the chorus size, and Sophocles, who added a third actor and further refined the chorus's role. During this era, genres such as tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays flourished, with performances featuring male actors wearing exaggerated, stylised masks to portray various characters, emotions, and types. Theatre architecture also developed significantly, from simple hillsides to grand structures with stone seats (theatron), a circular dancing area for the chorus (orchestra), and a stage building (skene). While the vitality of tragedy somewhat waned in the Hellenistic period, giving way to New Comedy, the foundational elements established by ancient Greek drama profoundly influenced the subsequent evolution of Western literature and theatre.

This episode explores how the history, society, and culture of England have profoundly shaped the trajectory of English literature, with each era leaving an indelible mark on its themes, styles, and narrative practices. From the earliest Old English period, the Anglo-Saxon settlement and subsequent Norman Conquest in 1066 had a profound influence on the language itself, evolving from Old English to Middle English under Norman-French lexical influence, which Geoffrey Chaucer later legitimised as a literary language. The English Renaissance (15th-16th Century), marked by humanism and the introduction of the printing press, fostered a flourishing of dramatic works, most notably by William Shakespeare, and new prose forms, while the Reformation inspired vernacular liturgy that influenced literary language. Subsequent political and religious upheavals, such as the English Civil War and the Restoration, gave rise to diverse literary expressions, from Puritan literature to Restoration comedy and satire, and saw the emergence of fiction and journalism as significant genres.

History of English Literature

This Episode throws a flood of light on the Origin and the Development of the English Novel.

This episode provides an overview of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, detailing the framework narrative of Robert Walton's Arctic journey and his discovery of Victor Frankenstein, who then recounts his life story. The episode highlights Victor's idyllic childhood, his scientific obsession leading to the creation of the monster, and the tragic consequences that follow, including the deaths of loved ones. Key characters, such as Victor, the Monster, and Walton, are described, along with analyses of their motivations and roles. The episode also explores significant literary elements from the novel, such as themes like dangerous knowledge and monstrosity, recurring motifs like passive women and abortion, and symbols like light and fire, all of which contribute to the complex narrative.

This episode offers a detailed analysis of Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull, providing a thorough examination of its core elements. It outlines the genre as tragi-comedy and the setting as a Russian estate around 1895. The episode identifies the four main protagonists and their intertwined major conflict, primarily focused on Konstantin Treplev's struggle for validation from his mother and her lover, which is complicated by a love triangle. The episode then examines key themes, such as the artist's role and existentialism, as well as notable motifs like unrequited love, and potent symbols like the seagull and the lake, explaining their evolving meanings within the narrative.

This episode on Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities provides a comprehensive overview of the novel, including its full title, author, genre, and publication details. The narrator's perspective and tone are outlined, alongside the story's setting in both time and place. A summary of the plot, major conflicts, rising and falling action, and climax is presented, followed by key themes, motifs, and symbols within the narrative. Finally, the text offers character descriptions and analytical discussions of prominent figures, such as Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge, as well as explorations of the novel's themes and literary techniques, including doubling and foreshadowing.

William Golding's Lord of the Flies narrates the descent of British schoolboys stranded on a deserted island during wartime from civility to savagery. Initially led by Ralph, who prioritises rescue and order symbolised by the conch shell and signal fire, the boys gradually succumb to primal instincts under Jack's influence, who champions hunting and tribalism. The emergence of a perceived "beast" amplifies their fears and accelerates their moral decay, culminating in violence and the tragic deaths of Piggy and Simon, who represent intellect and innate goodness, respectively. Ultimately, the arrival of a naval officer halts their barbarity, offering a bleak commentary on the inherent human capacity for evil when societal structures collapse. The novel explores themes of civilisation versus savagery and the loss of innocence through allegorical characters and potent symbols.